May 2023

Salvation for the World by T. M. Moore God will save and restore it all. A Celtic Christian Worldview But when human beings, for whom they [the sun and the moon] shone brightly from the first, joined together in service, were cast out because of the sin and lost the blessedness of paradise, the heavenly lights also suffered the decrease of their light not without grief on their part even though they were not at fault, as the apostle Paul argues saying: because all creation groans together and mourns even till now. But because the restoration of their former blessedness for the better is promised to the human race through the coming of a Redeemer, there is no doubt creation too will receive [back] its ancient glory.  – The Book of the Order of Creatures

The writer of the Liber describes the sun and moon, as representatives of the entire creation, as “colleagues in this ministry” (Marina Smyth) with Adam and Eve. The ministry in view was that of bringing out the goodness of God throughout all creation (Genesis 2.15; Psalm 8), for the betterment of all creatures and the glory of God. That was God’s plan from the beginning. Had Adam and Even not fallen into sin, they would have made of that beautiful garden something even more beautiful and fecund. And, as they had children, and their children had sinless children, the garden would have expanded until the entire earth was covered with the beauty and goodness of God, the work of the hands of people living without sin according to His truth.Of course, that’s not what actually happened – although it is where God is ultimately taking things. Our first parents fell into sin, and the introduction of sin into the creation affected everything, including the light of the sun and moon, and our ability to use these gifts as God intends. For the present, creation groans and travails – words typically associated with childbirth – to bring out the goodness and glory of God, because the sins of men have put the creation under bondage, so that it cannot completely fulfill its intended purpose.But Celtic Christians rightly understood that this condition – creation groaning and mourning – will not continue. When the Redeemer comes and liberates His people into freedom from the bondage of sin and death, then they will bring that freedom and renewal and fecundity to bear on the creation itself, and those ancient “colleagues in ministry” will be reunited in their calling to glorify God and further His Kingdom.This theme of the redemption of Christ reaching to and transforming the whole world is evident in the art works of Celtic Christians. Especially in illuminated Bible manuscripts and on high carved crosses, we find all kinds of plant and animal forms, together with symbols intended to represent the smallest elements and the largest planets. In every case, these forms are exaggerated beyond what we see when we look at them today, into forms that are fuller or more lithe and lovely, and which are frequently interspersed with words or stories from the Bible. The message is clear: creation is liberated and beautified by the redemption of Christ and the Word of God, and creation and the Word work together to bear witness to the wisdom, power, beauty, and love of God.What do you see when you look out on the creation around you? The trees, grass, plants, bugs, birds, clouds, hills, rivers, beaches, and all the rest? If you’re thinking with the mindset of Paul and our Celtic Christian forebears, you should see two things.First, you should see a wealth of gifts that are, for the most part, largely unwrapped. Creation reveals the glory of God, the goodness of our Lord and King, and His power, wisdom, majesty, beauty, wonder, and love. We unwrap that gift when we take the time to observe and care for creation, and to give thanks and praise to God for this wonderful world and all its creatures, and as we encourage others to see in these gifts the glory of Him Who gives them.Second, we should see opportunities for growing in our knowledge of God, and in the experience of knowing His presence and power more consistently and truly. God has left a witness to Himself in the creation (Acts 14.17), and Jesus upholds the whole of it by His Word of power (Hebrews 1.3). All creation, and ourselves included, have our being in God (Acts 17.28), so that we are never far from Him; and, through His creation, we are afforded abundant opportunities for becoming more immersed in and transformed by Him.As we make these observations, and carry through on the commitments they suggest, we bring the redeeming love and power of Jesus to bear on the world around us. And beauty increases, and truth becomes more visible, and goodness flourishes just a bit more, because we who know the liberating power of the Gospel extend that liberation to the many and varied gifts of creation that come into our hands.By His life, death, resurrection, and ascension to heaven, Jesus has reconciled the sin-burdened world to God (2 Corinthians 5.19). Our calling, as those who have been liberated into eternal life in Christ, is to take up the ancient mandate and the work of restoring creation to its proper glory (Hebrews 2.5-9), by fixing our eyes on Jesus, receiving every creature as a gift from God, and, working like rock hounds, bringing out the hidden beauty and grandeur the lies within the untidiness, foreignness, and woundedness of the creation all around.How will you take up this high and holy calling today?For Reflection 1. The glory of God is throughout creation, and it has great power once it is observed as such. Why are most of us so unaware of this glory, or so indifferent to its power?2. Look around at the various creatures that come into your purview each day. How can you begin to restore their God-given goodness and purpose? Psalm 145.4-12 (Brother James’ Air: The Lord’s My Shepherd, I’ll Not Want) To ev’ry generation we Your wondrous works shall tell. The splendor of Your majesty we contemplate full well. We speak of all Your mighty deeds and all Your greatness tell!Then shall we all the glorious fame of Your great goodness sing – Your righteousness, Your gracious Name, Your mercy: praise we bring! Your steadfast love remains the same, mercy our covering.Your works shall thank You; all Your saints shall bless and praise You, Lord. Your reign we bless without restraint; Your power fills our words. Our children we shall educate in all Your splendor, Lord.Lord, let me bring freedom and restoration to Your creation today, so that…To subscribe to T.M.’s twice-weekly meditations go to https://www.ailbe.org/resources/community and click Crosfigell.

Full-Time and Seasonal Field Steward Positions Available We are a non-profit Christian land conservation organization based in Angola, Indiana. We work with other nonprofit organizations, governmental agencies, and private land owners in northeast Indiana and southwest Michigan to assist them with stewardship of their lands. Our mission is to build communities where creation is kept and keep creation so that community may be restored.Blue Heron Ministries exists as an opportunity for folks to apply the hands-on craft of ecological restoration to steward our Father’s creation within the context of community.A description of the positions is as follows:Intensive and arduous labor.Term will begin ASAP. (seasonal position ends Oct 31) A typical work week is 35-40 hours…more during fire season or the occasional away trip. Beginning wage will be $17-$22/hour commiserate with experience. Overtime compensation. Paid holidays – 8 days (full-time only). Paid time off commiserate with pay and experience. We create an atmosphere of working from a place of rest. Health benefit stipend (full-time only). Uniforms and laundry service provided. The work environment is casual but intense. It has been said by former employees that the Blue Crew is great to work with and mostly feels like family, and the flexibility of work/time off scheduling is great. Stewardship of creation is our banner. We work to restore relationships within the prairie-oak continuum landscapes of the Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains Eco-region.Invasive species control predominantly in wetlands in Steuben and LaGrange and surrounding counties (Indiana and Michigan). Some travel and overnight stay will be required for distant  projects.Control of herbaceous invasive species (i.e. reed canary grass, cattails, purple loosestrife, etc.) will involve herbicide applications. Upland and wetland brush control will be included and will involve cutting and herbicide applications. Experience with chainsaw work is necessary.The field steward will participate in Blue Heron Ministries’ prescribed fire team. Experience in prescribed fire is necessary. Prairie and wetland seed collection and installation projects are a minor component of our work, as well.Work conditions will be cold or hot, wet or dry, and poisonous (herbicides and sumac and Massasaugas)…but where else can you enjoy the presence of God while caring for His creation in such a tangible way? The field steward must have a positive attitude, the willingness to learn and take direction, the ability to work independently and with a crew, the physical and mental ability to work outdoors under difficult conditions, and possess an attention to detail.The field steward will obtain an Indiana pesticide applicator’s license during the internship.The field steward will gain knowledge on a number of topics including but not limited to:Land management practices within prairie and oak ecosystemsKingdom principles of creation stewardshipPlant identification and monitoringThe lawful, ethical, and safe use of herbicidesWildlife surveys and monitoringOpportunities to network with other conservation organizationsSend resume and cover letter to stuartbheron1@hotmail.com attn: Nate Simons. Interviews of shortlisted applicants will follow.Position announcement will remain open until the positions are filled.

View from the Crew by John Brittenham

The Indiana Native Plant Society hosted a plant rescue at a wooded lot in a subdivision near Huntertown. The lot is scheduled to have a house built on it later this summer. A group of volunteers came together to dig up and relocate as many plants as possible in the location where the house will be built. The event was very successful with hundreds of plants being “rescued”. I felt lucky to work along so many other passionate people just trying to do good work to make this place better for both us and nature all around us.

A truck load of plants made their way back to my house to be planted in an area of lawn I’m converting back to forest edge. Plants included white trillium, woodland phlox, Jacob’s ladder, eastern hop hornbeam, Pennsylvania sedge, and others. I felt like a kid at Christmas as I brought so many new species to my little wood lot.

I was able to attend a native bumblebee identification workshop hosted by the Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center. The workshop taught volunteers how to monitor for Indiana’s native bumblebees, primarily through photographing the bees and sending the pictures in for identification. One of the goals of the program is to look for new locations of the federally endangered rusty patch bumblebee. The rusty patch bumblebee, like many or our native insects, has seen its numbers plummet in recent decades. In fact, it is estimated that 1 out of every 4 of our native bees is now at risk of extinction in the United States.

Blue Heron Ministries helped lead a native seed planting activity for the Vine Early Learning Center in Angola. Around 16 preschool students and 6 adults helped plant over 1,700 native plant plugs! Theses plants will be used on the campus to continue to establish the native plant garden planted last year by the students.

Students were invited to plant the native plant seeds into the plug trays. I’m always impressed with how well preschool students can do this task and for a long time. I have observed that many of my preschool groups are able to stay focused on the task of planting for longer than the elementary and middle school students I work with.

The finished product for the day. We planted around 36 trays with 49 – 2”x2” cells each for a total of 1,764 potential plants. Each tray is a single species, and 27 different species were planted. The plants will be grown all summer and then planted by the students and volunteers this fall or next spring.

I believe we live in an abundant world. I love to spread that abundance as best I am able. I also love raising native plants. Every year I grow plants at my house to give away to area projects who are using native plants. Last year I worked with Oak Farm Montessori middle school students to plant native species for a pocket prairie and demonstration garden on their campus. I grew the plants during the summer of 2022 and loaded them up this spring to finally get them in the ground. It is always a great feeling to send off the plants to their new home.

On a beautiful Saturday in May, I gathered with over 20 adult (and just as many youth) volunteers at Oak Farm Montessori School to plant a pocket prairie near their new art building. The group made short work of the planting and we panted over 2,000 plants in around 2 hours!

Oak Farm volunteers help plant a demonstration garden near the new art building at Oak Farm Montessori School. This area will serve to highlight several of our area’s native plants and also help inspire future art projects at the school.

The blue crew spent several days in May hunting down invasive reed canary grass at several wetland sites for the Shirley Heinze Land Trust near Michigan City, Indiana. Reed canary grass, which was brought from Europe and planted widely in our area for forage and erosion control, is one of the hardest invasive species to get rid of in wetlands. Widespread control of this plant takes years of repeat visits with herbicide. Once controlled, it will continually try to re-invade the wetland and must be monitored for and dealt with, in order to keep a native ecosystem healthy.

I was able to pay a visit to a friend and former Blue Heron Ministries employee, Mike Miller. Mike just finished the Master of Arts degree in Environmental Education at Goshen College. It was great to go along with the family on a guided hike led by Mike. Mike did a fantastic job and will make a fine educator. Well done Mike.

The Brittenham crew does some pond exploring at Merry Lea’s Nature Fest. Exploring the animals found in a dip net at the edge of a pond is an experience that everyone should have. It is such a great reminder of how much life and wonder is all around us if we just stop to look for it.

Fred Wooley steps in from the bullpen to help us plant trees at the Lake George Conservancy’s Oak Savanna preserve just across the border in Michigan. The property was an old apple orchard that is being converted into an oak savanna. Once a common habitat in northeast Indiana, oak savannas have almost all been entirely removed from the area. Many of the projects Blue Heron Ministries work on are trying to recreate or restore the most threatened and endangered habitats on our local landscape. Oak Savannas are one of these priority areas.

Our summer intern, Madeline McQuiston, spreads a native seed mix in a wet basin at a subdivision near Leo-Cedarville. Areas within subdivisions, like this water detention basin, are great locations to create native habitats. As our native habitats continue to experience more and more threats and destruction, finding spaces in our developed landscape that can be converted to natural habitat becomes critical to the survival of many of our native plants and animals.

One of the joys of working with interns each year is that they always bring a sense of curiosity and hunger to learn new things. Here, Madeline stops to investigate a dragon fly while spraying invasive brush at Pokagon State Park. It is a great reminder to me to never lose my “beginners mind” and to continually be curious about this wondrous world around us.

I was privileged to go on a two-day field trip with my second oldest daughter’s upper elementary class. At the Field Museum in Chicago, I ran around with three 5th and 6th grade boys and covered nearly the entire museum in 3 hours! I loved seeing all the amazing exhibits in the museum, especially the animal displays, but even more so I enjoyed seeing the museum through young eyes. But my not so youthful legs were very tired by the end of the day.

We ended the field trip with a visit to Indiana Dunes National Park. The waves where roaring that day. Everyone had a great time hiking the dune trails and playing on the beach. What a great way to end the trip and the month. There is so much beauty and splendor all around us and I was so glad to get even the smallest taste of it this month.

Upcoming Events

Summer Events Lupine seed collection at Badger Barrens will be happening in the next couple of weeks. We’ll also have an opportunity to help weed the prairie plugs that were started earlier this year. Dates will be determined soon and shared via email and on our facebook page and our website. Watch for details on other activities such as: a butterfly hike, a wildflower hike, a canoe/kayak tour, stewardship time at LaTierra, and seed collections.

Stewardship Help at La Tierra PreserveThe trails at our La Tierra Preserve are in need of some maintenance, and we need your help! We are looking for someone with carpentry skills that would be willing to lead efforts to repair the boardwalks at our LaTierra Preserve. If you (or someone you know) is interested or would like more information, please contact John Brittenham at johnbrittenham@gmail.com.La Tierra is near the spot where the borders of Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan meet. From Fremont, IN – travel east on SR 120. Turn right on Cope Rd/1000 E, (depending on your navigator) which is also the IN/MI state line. La Tierra is approximately 1/2 mile south on the west side of the road. A map is available here.